I said elsewhere that I like the cut of his jib! His style of reffing seems sympathetic to how we play, but I've seen him ref other teams matches, and still been impressed with him. One to watch I think.

The best ref in the league IMHO ...he let's the game flow and the major difference is he doesn't want to be star of the show.
Anyone have any idea who is ref next sat ? Please don't let it begin with a W

Having watched the game back, I'd agree he let the game flow. But he could've played advantage a few times and still done that particularly at the scrum. Overall though no complaints, he can come back!

1988JPCFThe best ref in the league IMHO ...he let's the game flow and the major difference is he doesn't want to be star of the show.
Anyone have any idea who is ref next sat ? Please don't let it begin with a W

He also had no grasp of off-side, and had he done, Wasps would have been pinged numerous times, so they can't be too unhappy with his performance.

I was saying after the game that it must be frustrating for the players - yesterday they had to roll away immediately but could be off-side all day. Another week, the opposite is true. I wish there was a bit more consistency and that refs picked up the same things week in, week out...

I was referring to the three times that Stevens imploded, so Newcastle surged forward on his side. Each time he pinged Newcastle for deliberate wheel, which seemed strange as how could Newcastle deliberately make Stevens run backwards?

DOK - Exactly. Falcons were IMO pretty competative in the scrum and a couple of the decisions were to be fair - debatable. Do not think anyone was cheating. I have debated this before, when your oppo prop folds and is in retreat you automatically get a wheel. The ref can then interpret this as a whip deliberately by your pack. The alternative is to stay straight and drive paralel with the touchline and thus you need to release your bind on the oppo prop and will be pinged for that infringement.

To be fair I do think Doyle had a generally very good game, just not sure he got all the scrum calls correct - but then which ref ever does.

ChrisR - you could argue that, but from what was heard on the mike, it was less a card for that specific tackle rather Doyle summed it up by saying it was the third continuous infringement relating to a penalty worthy tackle event, either early or late hit. Letter of the law it was a pen, refs warnings preceeding it made it a yellow.

Chris R, you could argue that, but I think that points on the board had a much bigger impact on the game than the yellow card. Both teams were only using 10 players anyway, so the loss of one didn't really make much difference.

Hey - in my "cheating" accusation, even I said the yellow card was dodgy! Bloke just on the field, not quite up with speed of play, makes a fairly innocuous infringement and is off the pitch! I know what Doyle was thinking but he should have waited for the fourth event!

My recollection of the sequence of events isn't 100%. Was the yellow card before or after Doyle directed both captains to talk to their teams about indiscipline, and Borthwick walked off to take up position for the Newcastle penalty without speaking to his players?

I actually thought the touch judge had some involvement in the decision. If Melck had not pulled out of the tackle then i think it could have been potentially very dangerous so i have no problems with the yellow card.

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